Sports

Orioles fall to Rays in finale, will make a ‘wild’ trip to Texas

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Orioles still think they will get a shot at the Yankees.

They let a home playoff game slip through their fingers Wednesday night as Evan Longoria crushed three home runs and the Rays pitching once again shut down Buck Showalter’s team. The Rays came away with the 4-1 win at Tropicana Field in Game 162, sending the Orioles to Texas for the winner-take-all wild card matchup with the Rangers tomorrow night at the fly ball-friendly Ballpark in Arlington.

If the Orioles could have won last night they would have played host to the Rangers at Camden Yards. The Orioles have not been in the post-season since 1997, and now, to get the home playoff game that Showalter has coveted, they will have to find a way to win this game.

Despite a strong September run, the Orioles couldn’t catch the Yankees, losing two of three to the Rays, but they have the chance to move onto the ALDS and get another shot at the Yankees if they can find a way to beat the Rangers.

“To be continued,’’ Showalter said. “The guys are ready. We’re looking forward to playing in Texas. We feel good about the opportunity we have earned.’’

The Orioles might send Joe Saunders to the mound against Yu Darvish, but for Showalter the wheels always are turning. He could go to right-hander Steve Johnson or a host of pitchers. Saunders is 3-7 lifetime against the Rangers with a 6.48 ERA. The Orioles have not faced Darvish this season, but they have stumbled against the Rangers, going 2-5, being outscored, 56-24.

These aren’t the same Rangers from earlier in the season, a team that was in first place in the AL West practically the entire season.

The Rangers collapsed in the World Series and they collapsed down the stretch as they were pummeled by the high-flying A’s yesterday, 12-5 to lose the West. The Rangers and Orioles both finished 93-69. This is one for the money.

“Everybody in the world is going to be watching, over in Indonesia everybody is going to be watching,’’ Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said. “You are on the biggest stage, this is the position we put ourselves in. We’ve got no choice, we’ve got to go out there and play the game.’’

Chris Davis, a former Ranger, said he wanted the Orioles to win the AL East title, but is looking forward to the showdown with the Rangers.

“It’s a little bit of disappointment, but you have to be proud of what you accomplished so far and you got to get ready to play nine innings,” he said. “It’s going to be a crazy game. I think when they made this format they knew it was going to spike ratings and draw a lot of attention and it has.’’

Ironically, under last year’s playoff format, it would have been a one-game playoff as well because the two teams finished tied.

When someone mentioned to Showalter the Orioles could be done in one short playoff game after a season of success, he gave that Showalter smile and said, “Yeah, we could also win one game.’’

To be continued.